In the above clip from Indiana Jones, The Last Crusade, Indy and the “bad guys” have found the place of the Holy Grail – the cup of Jesus Christ. There is a ghost knight occupying the cavern containing a basin of living water and an abundance of various cups, some very elaborate and some less so. The knight tells the greedy bad guy to choose wisely as the right cup will bring life, but the wrong cup will bring death. There is only one holy grail. The man chooses the most beautiful cup he can find and runs to the basin of water. He dips it in and takes a drink. Immediately, he begins to age and deteriorate (a disgusting sight) until his skeleton explodes into dust. The knight says “He chose….poorly.” Now it’s Indy’s turn. He reminds himself that Jesus was a carpenter. He searches for the simplest, most unlikely choice of cup. He makes his choice and proceeds to dip the cup into the basin. He drinks the water, and the knight says, “You have chosen…wisely.”
I was going to write this blog to inquiring and future racers, but I actually believe it’s applicable to life in general. It will be different. To racers, whatever picture you have in your mind, whatever videos you’ve watched, whatever blogs you’ve read and testimonies you’ve heard….it will be different. To all others, whatever dream job scenario you conjured up in your mind, whatever event you’ve planned, whatever relationship you dream of…..it will be different. Why? Because every race is unique. Because life is unique. Because our actions affect others and their actions affect you. Still…
You have a choice.
They also have a choice, but…
You can’t control their choice; and ultimately, you shouldn’t allow their choice to determine your perspective or experience.
This is hard. People are messy. You work with coworkers and a boss. You live with someone else. You interact with family and your own community in various ways. You will disagree with people, even people you love. You will get annoyed by other people. We have a lot of great moments with people too; but as you spend time with and encounter people, something will stir you up and you will notice areas in your life that need improving. As a defense mechanism (pride), you will begin noticing everything everyone else should improve on and do better. You will easily identify them (publicly or in your own mind) in order to make you feel better about your own need for improvement.
In the good and in the mess, you have a choice:
You have the choice to love when someone is really hard to love. (Matt 5:43-48)
You have the choice to serve without complaining when you really don’t enjoy the assigned task.
You have the choice to let go of false accusations against you because there is only One whose opinion matters and He sees everything no one else does. (Matt 5:11-12, James 4:11-12)
You have the choice to let go of your entitlements and comforts for the sake of others. (Phil 2:4-5)
You have the choice to withhold your opinion in order to listen and give value to others instead of trying to fix people under the assumption that your opinion/perspective is best.
You have the choice to see good rather than be consumed with whatever negative thing you are presently encountering.
Most frustrations with others have a deeper root in our own hearts, and you have the choice to work through it instead of just blaming someone else.
If you don’t know Jesus like I do, I understand that these things might sound crazy. There are incomparable and indescribable riches in making those choices because of Jesus. It’s so dang hard, and I don’t make the right choice often; but it’s worth it to strive for it. At some level, even if you don’t know Jesus intimately, many people admit to feeling good when putting their desires or comforts aside for the sake of someone else. Jesus enhances that beyond anything you can imagine as He draws you close to His heart because in His heart is fullness of….well, everything.
So when you face life, remember…..you have a choice!
